On December 25, 1776 George Washington made a risky move by taking all of his men and supplies and crossing the Delaware river. This was a risky move due to the lack of visibility, the fact that they were in small fishing boats, also that the river was filled with very large chunks of ice. So it took Washington some time to make it across the river with all of his men and supplies. Washington and his troops did not leave until late Christmas night and early the next morning.
washington-delaware-l.jpg
Christmas night George Washington and his troops were not having a good time like the rest of the patriots in America. Nope, they were not out partying or having a good time that night. The patriots were out working, they were working on crossing the Delaware River in small fishing boats that they had to borrow from the fishermen. Crossing the river was not a fast process. It took a long time because they need to bring over all the troops, supplies, horses, cannons, and other items. But Washington was able to do it. Washington and his men then started there march to Trenton. During the march to Trenton Washington and his troops spilt up and surrounded Trenton. Now the battle of Trenton was on.
trenton-map-l.jpg
With George Washington and his troops surround Trenton they knew there was know way that the Hessians(mercenary troops from Germany employed by the British)were going to be able to make it out of the town. So around 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. George Washington ordered his 2,400 troops to move into to the town and take it over. By the time the Hessians noticed that the Americans were here it was already to late. Most of the Hessian had just awaken and started to fight, but it was still not good enough. The Americans just moved to fast for the Hessians to do anything. The Americans ran up every road and every side street so there was know way for the Hessians to make it out of the town. Colonel Rall and most of his men were up late the night before. Also Colonel Rall took his time getting dressed thinking that it was going to be an easy win against the Americans. Colonel Rall and his troops were also up the night before partying and having a good time. So the americans cought the Hessians off guard. The Hessians were ordered by their colonel to move to the open farm area which they did not know at the time but Washington, troops, and cannons were already there just waiting for them. so when the Hessians arrived in the open fields the battle ended quickly. The battle ended right around 9:30 a.m.
battle_of_trenton.jpg
So by 9:30 a.m. George Washington won the battle while he only lost 2 men and had 5 were wounded. While the Hessians had 22 Casualties, 83 wounded, and 896 captured. By noon Washington, his men, the captured Hessians, supplies and all of the captured supplies were back in Pennsylvania. This win was great because it proved to the continual Congress that we can win this war. It also made that troops realized that we have a chance, so more troops wanted to join.
Questions
1. What were the Americans doing Christmas night?
2. Why were the Hessians caught off guard?
3. What were some of the reasons why the Americans won this battle? http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/washingtondelaware.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trenton
The Battle of Trenton
On December 25, 1776 George Washington made a risky move by taking all of his men and supplies and crossing the Delaware river. This was a risky move due to the lack of visibility, the fact that they were in small fishing boats, also that the river was filled with very large chunks of ice. So it took Washington some time to make it across the river with all of his men and supplies. Washington and his troops did not leave until late Christmas night and early the next morning.Christmas night George Washington and his troops were not having a good time like the rest of the patriots in America. Nope, they were not out partying or having a good time that night. The patriots were out working, they were working on crossing the Delaware River in small fishing boats that they had to borrow from the fishermen. Crossing the river was not a fast process. It took a long time because they need to bring over all the troops, supplies, horses, cannons, and other items. But Washington was able to do it. Washington and his men then started there march to Trenton. During the march to Trenton Washington and his troops spilt up and surrounded Trenton. Now the battle of Trenton was on.
With George Washington and his troops surround Trenton they knew there was know way that the Hessians(mercenary troops from Germany employed by the British)were going to be able to make it out of the town. So around 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. George Washington ordered his 2,400 troops to move into to the town and take it over. By the time the Hessians noticed that the Americans were here it was already to late. Most of the Hessian had just awaken and started to fight, but it was still not good enough. The Americans just moved to fast for the Hessians to do anything. The Americans ran up every road and every side street so there was know way for the Hessians to make it out of the town. Colonel Rall and most of his men were up late the night before. Also Colonel Rall took his time getting dressed thinking that it was going to be an easy win against the Americans. Colonel Rall and his troops were also up the night before partying and having a good time. So the americans cought the Hessians off guard. The Hessians were ordered by their colonel to move to the open farm area which they did not know at the time but Washington, troops, and cannons were already there just waiting for them. so when the Hessians arrived in the open fields the battle ended quickly. The battle ended right around 9:30 a.m.
So by 9:30 a.m. George Washington won the battle while he only lost 2 men and had 5 were wounded. While the Hessians had 22 Casualties, 83 wounded, and 896 captured. By noon Washington, his men, the captured Hessians, supplies and all of the captured supplies were back in Pennsylvania. This win was great because it proved to the continual Congress that we can win this war. It also made that troops realized that we have a chance, so more troops wanted to join.
Questions
1. What were the Americans doing Christmas night?
2. Why were the Hessians caught off guard?
3. What were some of the reasons why the Americans won this battle?
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/washingtondelaware.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trenton
http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-trenton.htm
http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/battles/Trenton.html
http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/761226.htm
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles/bat_tren.asp
http://www.patriotresource.com/battles/trenton.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h679.html
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_trenton1776.html
http://www.americanrevolution.com/BattleofTrenton.htm
http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/battles.htm
http://www.multied.com/revolt/trenton2.html
http://zorak.monmouth.edu/~njhist/Trenton.html
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/battle-of-trenton.htm
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Battle_of_Trenton
http://history.howstuffworks.com/revolutionary-war/battle-of-trenton.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/10966/data/trenton.shtml
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_762510355/battle_of_trenton.html
http://www.generalatomic.com/AmericanHistory/battle_of_trenton.html
http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/about/history/battle_trenton.html
http://www.historycarper.com/kids/htfah/trenton.htm
http://virtualology.com/virtualwarmuseum.com/revolutionarywarhall/BATTLEOFTRENTON.COM/
http://21stcenturycicero.wordpress.com/events/1776-1226-battle-of-trenton/
http://www.freebase.com/view/en/battle_of_trenton
http://knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Battle_of_Trenton/